Career Competencies

As a student at ASU, you are constantly building new skills, experiences and competencies that contribute to your overall personal
growth and professional development. Many of these skills and experiences can be used to help you be career ready even before
graduation. These eight career competencies encompass the skills that employers are seeking and highly qualified candidates often
possess. Career competencies were developed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) that works to promote
career readiness in students.

Career and Professional Development Services has made it easy for you to ensure you are making strides in each of these areas.
We have included the icons below that will aid in your ability to connect the career competencies to questions, scenarios, and other
information located throughout all of our resources.

Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Global/Intercultural Fluency

Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions and Value, respect, and learn from diverse cultures, races, ages, genders,
overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret, and sexual orientations and religions. The individual demonstrates, openness,
use knowledge, facts, and data in this process and may demonstrate inclusiveness, sensitivity and the ability to interact respectfully with all
originality and inventiveness. people and understand individuals’ differences.

Professionalism/Work Ethic Career Management

Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits, e.g.,
punctuality, working productively with others, and time management, and
understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional work
image. The individual demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior, acts
responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind, and is able
to learn from his/her mistakes.
Identify and articulate one’s skills, strengths, knowledge and experiences
relevant to the position desired and career goals, and identify areas
necessary for professional growth. The individual is able to navigate
and explore job options, understands and can take the steps necessary
to pursue opportunities and understands how to self-advocate for
opportunities in the workplace.

Teamwork/Collaboration Oral/Written Communication

Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers
representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles
and viewpoints. The individual is able to work within a team structure, and
can negotiate and manage conflict.
Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral
forms to persons inside and outside of the organization. The individual
has public speaking skills; is able to express ideas to others; and can
write and edit memos, letters and complex technical reports clearly and
effectively.

Digital Technology Leadership

Leverage existing digital technologies ethically and efficiently to Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and use
solve problems, complete tasks and accomplish goals. The individual interpersonal skills to coach and develop others. The individual is able to
demonstrates effective adaptability to new and emerging technologies. assess and manage his/her emotions and those of others; use empathetic
skills to guide and motivate; and organize, prioritize and delegate work.

Are you According to NACE, career readiness is the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare
college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace. In other words, career readiness means that you have
career experience and skills in each of the eight career competencies and are capable of navigating the job search and interview
ready? process and have the skills and knowledge to be successful in the career of your choosing.

Adapted from NACE Career Readiness for the New College Graduates
Putting Career Competencies in Action
Now that you are familiar with these career competencies, let’s take a look at which ones you have most developed and which you would like to
develop further. Employer are going to not only seek out these competences, but want to see evidence on how you apply them. Fill in the section
below to summarise your most developed competencies.

Skills developed Comments: (e.g. what activities can I get involved in to develop this)
1.

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Now that we have looked at what compentencies you are strong in, what about ones that you would like to develp further? Employers are going to
want to address a variety of different competencies and might hit on ones that you are not so strong in. Why not working on developing some strate-
gies on strengthening them. Start with listing four competencies you would like to get more experience with and what activities and steps you can take
to develop them. You can ask for suggestions from friends, mentors, advisors if you can’t think of activities yourself.

Skills developed Comments: (e.g. what activities can I get involved in to develop this)
5.

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7.

8.

Career Tip:
Want to learn more about career competencies check out our YouTube videos at: bit.ly/cpdsyoutube

480-965-2350
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